003. What a Nonsense
So, Wen Yang didn’t go on the date, which means the first scene of the novel never happened. Did that mean all the subsequent plotlines wouldn’t happen either?
Ning Chu followed behind three roommates, staring down at his toes, lost in thought.
Well, it would probably still happen. After all, it was one of those short stories making up “Little Emperor Wen,” where each tale was only loosely connected.
But he had to at least try.
He sighed deeply, worry weighing on him.
Having been stuck in the dorm for so long, it was hard for him to imagine Wen Yang turning into a player j*rk in the future, let alone Zhang Shaoqing becoming the villain of the story.
To make matters worse, his role in the story seemed to be that of a woman, specifically one pinned under someone.
Even though he felt like he was just scaring himself, he was still a perfectly fine male right now. Shorter than average, sure, but no way he could suddenly become a girl, right?
“Let’s eat at this Sichuan restaurant?”
Ning Chu’s world went dark as he bumped into Zhang Shaoqing’s back, covering his nose and taking a step back.
Zhang Shaoqing remained unperturbed, turning back with a puzzled look. “Why did you bump into me?”
“……”
“You’re treating, so anything you want to eat is fine,” Wang Jie chimed in, “This Sichuan restaurant is really delicious?”
“Nope, didn’t he write that? Spend over two hundred, get a box of wine free.”
Ning Chu rubbed his sore, red nose, secretly mocking Zhang Shaoqing’s generous yet strangely savvy lifestyle.
He hurried to catch up with his three roommates, stepping into the restaurant’s private room, chin in hand, staring blankly at a painting on the wall.
“Spacing out again, no idea what he’s thinking about all day.” Zhang Shaoqing glanced at the dazed Ning Chu, picking up the menu. “Order, order! Don’t skimp on the budget.”
Wen Yang and Wang Jie knew Zhang wasn’t lacking in funds, but they still tried to stick to the cheaper items.
While waiting for the food, a box of wine had already been popped open.
Ning Chu was nudged, jolting back to reality to find Wen Yang sitting beside him, filling his cup with wine.
“Want some? Stop spacing out!”
“Um.”
He casually pushed the wine cup back. “I’m allergic to alcohol, just give me Coke.”
In such a dangerous world, surrounded by both the male lead and the villain, how could he dare to drink? What if the plot related to him rolled out early?
Ning Chu darted to the fridge to grab a bottle of Coke, returning just in time to spot Wen Yang’s gaze fixed on him.
Why’s this guy staring at me?
He was sensitive to stares and could clearly feel Wen Yang’s gaze lingering on him.
From the moment he stood up to leave the room to the instant he returned with the Coke, Wen Yang’s eyes never left him.
“What’s up?”
“Feels like you’ve gained weight,” Wen Yang mumbled, looking away.
Gained weight?
Ning Chu scratched his head and glanced down at himself.
Though he was slouched in a relaxed position, there was no extra belly fat. He was quite thin; he definitely didn’t look any heavier.
Where’s the weight?
His gaze flicked from his belly to his shorts-covered legs, then to his slender arms and chest.
Nothing unusual there.
“Military training starts tomorrow, huh?” Wen Yang leaned over to let the serving staff through, complaining, “All my friends start after National Day. Why do we have to be so early?”
“God knows, better ask those clueless school leaders.”
With the dishes served, the group raised their glasses and dug in. Despite Ning Chu’s worries, he didn’t slack off when it came to eating.
Why overthink? Time to fill the belly first!
Even if he was destined to be the girl pinned under his roommates in the story, that was not a concern for now.
Leaving the dorm around six, the four had been eating until after eight.
Wen Yang stood up first, glancing at Wang Jie, who was sprawled over the table, and Zhang Shaoqing, who was nursing an empty bottle, sighing in exasperation. “I knew these two would end up wasted again.”
“Let’s go, just you and me…” he turned to see Ning Chu’s petite frame, shaking his head in defeat. “I’ll take them back.”
“I’ll help you support them.”
Ning Chu was happy to have something easy to do and stood up to help, propping Wang Jie and Zhang Shaoqing up on either side.
With two drunks hanging off him, Wen Yang stood up and took a step forward, only to sway dangerously to the left and right, nearly toppling over.
“This won’t do…” Ning Chu frowned, breaking into a light jog out of the private room, “Set them down, wait for me!”
“What are you doing?”
Wen Yang looked a bit worried, only seeing Ning Chu’s back as he bolted out the door.
With a slightly perplexed expression, after setting down the two drunks, he muttered to himself, “Why does Ning Chu’s back look like a girl’s?”
A few minutes later, Ning Chu returned wheeling a small pushcart, beaming with pride. “I borrowed a cart from the kitchen. It’s a bit dirty, but they shouldn’t mind.”
This was a small four-wheeled cart used in the restaurant for transporting ingredients, not very big at all.
“Not bad!” Wen Yang’s expression was a mix of surprise and admiration.
He’d always thought this roommate was shy, but here he was, chatting up kitchen staff and borrowing a cart within minutes.
Zhang Shaoqing hadn’t passed out yet and sat up obediently on the cart, hugging his knees, trying to minimize his space.
Wang Jie squeezed onto the cart as well, two grown men huddled together on a cart that could barely hold one, looking as pitiful as two hundred-pound kids.
“If they roll back to school like this, they’ll be a laughingstock tomorrow,” Wen Yang chuckled while pushing the cart. He turned around and found Ning Chu suddenly jumpy, hastily hiding his phone behind his back.
“Never mind, just take a couple of shots of their embarrassing moments. Send me a couple when we get back to the dorm.”
With Wen Yang’s approval, Ning Chu’s eyes sparkled, and he shamelessly snapped pictures at various angles of the two drunken fools, saving them on his phone.
Seeing this lively side of Ning Chu, with his pale, delicate calves peeking out from his shorts, made Wen Yang’s eyes narrow, though there was a hint of hesitation in his expression.
“What are you thinking?” Ning Chu noticed his peculiar look and explained, “I’ve got some family issues going on, so I haven’t been very chatty. Just a bit introverted lately.”
“Not that, I meant, you…”
“Hmm?”
Wen Yang’s gaze moved discreetly over Ning Chu’s waist and legs, hesitating on how to continue. “Forget it.”
“You’re such a tease, leaving me hanging!” Ning Chu turned around and shot a glare at Wen Yang.
Those large, bright eyes, even with anger, looked more like a pouting girl.
“Spill it! What’s your question?”
“Uh… what body wash do you use? I caught a nice scent during dinner. Smells great!”
He froze, looking down to sniff his own forearm, confused as he glanced back at Wen Yang. “What scent? I’m sweaty and smell like… well, sweat!”
“Really?”
Ning Chu’s expression suddenly darkened. “Then what else could it be?”
More and more signs were pointing to the fact that his role in this world might indeed be that of the girl hidden in the boys’ dorm, pinned beneath Wen Yang.
What a nonsense!
Others cross over and become protagonists, achieving success, or at the very least, they become satisfying villains.
But not him! He had become one of Little Emperor Wen’s favored playthings?
